Takeshi Konomi

Takeshi Konomi, born June 26, 1970, in Japan, is the manga artist who created the long-running sports series *The Prince of Tennis*. He first gained notice in the late 1990s with a short story in *Weekly Shōnen Jump*, but his breakout came in 1999 when he launched the tennis-centric manga that would define his career. Konomi’s art style is clean and expressive, with dynamic action sequences that capture the speed and intensity of competitive tennis. He worked closely with editors and assistants at Shueisha to build the series into a multimedia franchise, including anime, films, and stage musicals. *The Prince of Tennis* ran for over 40 volumes and spawned a sequel, *The Prince of Tennis II*, both credited to Konomi as writer and artist. In 2023, news reports indicated he was using a wheelchair due to an unspecified condition, but by June of that year he posted a photo of himself standing unaided at a fan event, suggesting a recovery. Konomi’s work has earned him a dedicated following, particularly in Japan, where the series remains a staple of sports manga. He has not received major industry awards, but his influence is evident in the continued popularity of the franchise.